Today In History: Paddington Bear Makes His Debut

On October 13th, 1958, a little bear from "Darkest" Peru made his debut appearance in the beloved children's book, A Bear Called Paddington, by Michael Bond, a cameraman for BBC whose heart softened for the teddy bear left alone in a shop in the eponymous London train station.  Bond purchased the bear in 1956 as a Christmas gift to his wife, Brenda. Generosity led to writing, with Paddington initially sitting atop his suitcase, a jar of marmalade, and the sign, "Please look after this bear". The Brown family of 32 Windsor Gardens take pity and adopt him into their family, where over the course of time, (mis)adventures ensue. From the Peruvian jungle, where his home was destroyed by fire, to the wilds of the British capitol, flocking with people, Paddington Bear becomes a universally loved and optimistic character.

The iconic, well-mannered bear is also one that symbolizes human kindness and compassion. Thomas Michael Bond (1926-2017) grew up in Reading, England and experienced an extended family; his parents opened their home to many children, including refugees, who were evacuated from London during the Second World War. 

The Paddington Bear series comprises twenty-eight books (a couple published posthumously),  with film and theater, adaptations, as well as art --  the bronze statues of Paddington Bear in Leicester Square and Paddington Station!  Relevant to themes of migration, family, and love, the fictional bear holds a special place for readers of any age, and his story is widely held in homes, schools, and libraries throughout the world.

The following articles are drawn from Proquest Historical Newspapers, which informs and inspires classroom teaching and learning:

• Cawley, J. (1980, Mar 23). Paddington, a Reliable Bear, Turns 21. The Hartford Courant (1923-)
•  Noone, A.  (1987, Dec 24). A Tale of Paddington Bear: Celebrations. The Washington Post (1974-) 
• Oginiz, E. (1988, Nov 24). Stuffed with Sense: For 30 years Paddington Has Helped Us Bear Life's Bumps. Chicago Tribune (1963-1996) 
• Paddington Bear Turns 30: Beloved Character Never Disappoints His Creator.  (1988, Dec 02). The Sun (1837-) 
• Culf, A. (1994, May 06). Paddington Bear Really Takes the Marmalade Sandwich for Japanese Viewers. The Guardian (1959-2003) 
• Britain's Paddington Bear Marks 40 Years of Frolic. (1998, Apr 06). Chicago Tribune (1997-) 
• Moore, S. (1999, Jun 13). Paddington: His Story. The Washington Post (1974-) 
• Smith, R. (2002, Jan 01). We're Only Here for the Bear. The Guardian (1959-2003) 
• Police Set to Quiz Paddington Bear. (2007, Dec 09). The Times of India (1861-2010) 
• Author and Creator of Paddington Bear. (2017, Jul 01). The Irish Times (1921-) 

Tips:

• Bond, Michael., and Peggy. Fortnum. A Bear Called Paddington. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1960. Closed Stacks Juvenile ; PZ7.B6368 Be 1960
• Bond, Michael. Paddington in the Kitchen. London: HarperCollins, 1992. Closed Stacks Juvenile ; PZ7.B6368 1992
• Bond, Michael., and Peggy. Fortnum. More About Paddington. Revised edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1997. Juvenile ; PZ7.B6368 Mo 1997 
• Grayson, Kyle. "How to Read Paddington Bear: Liberalism and the Foreign Subject in a Bear Called Paddington." The British Journal of Politics and International Relations 15.3 (2013): 378-393.
• Seitz, David K. “‘Migration Is Not a Crime’: Migrant Justice and the Creative Uses of Paddington Bear.” Annals of the American Association of Geographers 112.3 (2022): 859–866. 
• Smith, Angela. “Paddington Bear: A Case Study of Immigration and Otherness.” Children’s Literature in Education 37.1 (2006): 35–50. 
• Smith, Philip. “Paddington Bear and the Erasure of Difference.” Children’s Literature Association Quarterly 45.1 (2020): 25–42. 

Images:

•  Book Cover, Paddington: The Original Story of the Bear from Peru
• Classic Paddington Bear, with Wellies

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